SAWS has only one priority - to keep our riding areas open. Our purpose is not to be a social outlet but rather as activists whose combined knowledge and strengths will benefit the greater snowmobiling community. We will focus on preventing riding areas from being shut down due to changes in land use designations that are detrimental to snowmobiling.

SAWS believes that we currently have enough designated wilderness in this country to support the small percentage of recreationists that wish, or are allowed to, visit these areas. We do not support adding additional lands as wilderness. Presently there are over 107 million acres of designated wilderness, of which the majority is located in the western United States. And there are millions more acres of land that the extreme preservationists are attempting to add to these current acres of existing wilderness. As we are sure that you are aware, motorized and mechanical forms of transport are not allowed in wilderness areas.

SAWS supports multiple use recreation of our national forests, and does not support exclusive designations that eliminate one form of recreation in favor of another. Therefore we do not support the forest service practice of recommending areas for wilderness designation, and closing these areas to snowmobiling while they await wilderness designation approval from Congress.

SAWS supports Webster's definition of a compromise. That is; "a settlement in which each side makes concessions". We do not believe in coming to the table to discuss how much we are willing to give up. Instead, we believe the discussions need to start from the standpoint of what new areas they are willing to open for snowmobilers, in exchange for closing an area currently open to snowmobilers.

For more information about SAWS, to read our latest Alerts, and to join, donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.snowmobile-alliance.org.

Great point Wade - if you have not been receiving emails from SAWS (the only way that we communicate with our members) please visit our website http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/ and update your address.

EVERYONE that rides should be concerned with the amount of closures that are being proposed, regardless of where you ride.